Article transferring mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l C. S. RILEY Filed June 5, 1935 In 0 en tor:a/zedfzfiifqy A Horn eggs.

ARTICLE TRANSFERRING MECHANISM Wi tn ess:

March 2, 1937. Q 5, RlLEY 2,072,826

ARTICLE TRANSFERRING MECHANISI Filed June 5, 1935 2 Shoots-Shoot 2 Inven tor: v gfla/ze anfiieqy b yflmv M A ttorne ys.

Witness:

Patented Ms. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES ARTICLE TBANSFERRING MECHANISM Clares. Riley, Windsor, Com, assignor to Hart-- ford-Empire Company,Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 5, 1935,Serial No. 25,015

Claims,

'l'hisiinvention relates to article mechanism and more particularly to atongs mechanism usable in stacking articles, such as bottles, in close.relation to each other. 5 In the use of stacking devices of the typewhich pick up an article, such as a bottle, from a conveyor or buck at apredetermined point and set it down at a delivery station, which .may beon the conveyor belt of a glasswareannealing difilculty above set forth,specifically by providing a means for .limiting the opening movement oftongs in releasing an article at the delivery sta-v tion or position,while permitting the full opening of the tongs at some subsequent time,preferably after the tongs and their carrier or support have been movedbodily away from the delivery position, so that the full opening of thetongs will not cause them to hit adjacent 'articles. It is desired thattongs used in stacking glassware, *and for certain other purposes, befully opened prior to their being brought to the receiving station inorder that they-may grasp articles which may not be accurately spottedat that station.

A further and relatively specific object of my present invention is toprovide for the adjustment of the degree of the initial or partialopening of the tongs in a, manner-independent of the fully opened orfully closed positions, so as to compensate for the different spacingbetween articles usable, for example, when the device is used on alehrstacker.

A further specific object'of the invention is to provide adjustabletiming means for controlling as desired the interval between the initialor partial opening of the tongs and the subsequent or full openingthereof.

50 Other and more specific objects of the present -invention will appearfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof and inthe appended claims, all when, taken in conjunction with the accom 5.5which:

drawings in transferring Figure 1 is a view principally in elevation ofstacker tongs with my improved device associated therewith, certain ofthe operating means for the tongs opening retarding mechanism beingshown in vertical section; Fig. 2' is a view of the device principallyin cen-' tral vertical section taken at right angles to the view ofFigure 1;

.Fig. 3, is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section ofthe device, the sectional view being on the line 3-3 of Figs; 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view substantially in orizontal section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but at a difl'erent angleand showing certain of the passage means between the main tongsoperating mechanism and the auxiliary cylinder, the parts in sectionbeing shown on the line 5-5 of Fig; 3; Y

4 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing an'application ofmechanism embodying my invention; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on the line'I--'| of Fig. 5. v I

I have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to the stackingtongs of the Hartford- Empire stacker, which is shown in Lorenz PatamNo. 1,878,156, granted September 20, 1932. Fig. 6 of the presentdrawingsvcorresponds generally to the lower portion of Fig.3 of theLorenz patent. It will be understood, however, that my invention may beapplied not only in other types of stackers,- but also in devices-usablefor somewhatdiiferent purposes, and in fact wherever the resultsattainable by the use of the invention are applicable.

' In its normal operation, the Hartford-Empire stacker is arranged topick up bottles or other glass articles at a single position on a buckor conveyor and place these bottles in different positions on theconveyor belt of a glass annealing lehr. The result of stacking asattained by the Hartford stacker is that the entire or a predeterminedpart of the area of the lehr conveyor is filled with the articles whichare being stacked in substantially uniformly spaced relation, thearticles being preferably close together, but not touching.

It will be understood therefore, that while the present claims refer toa receiving position, which is in the usual case a single position atwhichthe articles are spotted on the conveyor or buck to be picked up,and also refer to a "delivery position", this last position may be andin fact is a plurality of different positions on the conveyor belt ofthe lehr in the case of the Hartford-Empire stacker. This variationin'the actual point at which bottles are delivered by the stacker isaccomplished by a lateral indexing 6 movement of the stacker mechanismabout a center which is in vertical alignment with the receivingposition for the bottles. However, inasmuch as this feature is not apart of my present invention, but is disclosed and claimed in the Lorenzpatent above referred to, it is not thought necessary to go into detailexcept to bring out that the delivery position" expressed in theappendedclaims'may not be one single position, but is to be construed asincluding any and all points at which bottles or other articles beingtransferred'are delivered by the stacking or transferring meansprovided.

Referring first to Fig. 6, which as above stated cor-responds generallyto a part of Fig. 3 of the Lorenz patent above referred to, there isillustrated a depending bracket I, which is supported from above in amanner specifically described in the Lorenz patent. To the lower end ofthe bracket there is pivoted at 2 a swinging arm 3 on which the stackertongs hereinafter to be de scribed are suitably mounted. For swingingthe arm 3 about the axis 2, there is provided a sprocket chain 4engaging with a sprocket wheel 5 which is secured to the arm 3. One endof the sprocket chain 4 is connected to a resilient device 6 while theother end is connected to a suitable prank both shown and described indetail in the Lorenz patent, but not illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Suflicient be it to say for the present purposes that movementis imparted to the sprocket wheel 5 and 'the arm 3 through the sprocketchain 4 from suitable operating mechanism to move the arm between thefull and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 6. A spring I is I:connected between a suitable anchorage and a bracket 8 rigid with thearm 3 to serve as a counterbalance and for certain other purposes, allof which are fully described in the Lorenz patent. The outer end of thearm 3 supports a suitable pintle on which is secured a split bracket 9which clamps" around the barrel portion III of the tongs support whichis generally indicated at H. In order that the tongs may be retainedvertical to sustain an article in vertical position during the movementthereof from the buck B to the lehr conveyor L shown in Fig. 6, there isprovided a parallel motion device'comprising a sprocket wheel |2 which.is secured to-a sleeve 66 rigid with the bracket and also a sprocket l3having the same number of teeth and pitch as the sprocket l2 and whichis secured to the pintle carrying the split bracket 9. Surrounding thesprocket wheels 12 and I3 is a sprocket chain I4',

the ends of which may be connected by a spiral ,tension spring l5 asshown. The sprocket |2 being secured to the bracket I doesnot rotate andhence rotation ofthe arm 3 around the axis 2 will cause the chain I4 tomove about the sprockets l2 and i3 without any variation of the sprocket|3 from its initial angular position in respect to the vertical, thusretaining the barrel portion ill of the tongs Support I| alwaysvertical.

In. this way articles such as the bottle A are picked up at thereceiving position shown at the right in Fig.- 6 and moved to theposition at which the bottle C is located on the belt L, the tongs beingshown .at this position just releasing the article and being partlyopened so as not to engage and topple over the bottle D adjacent to thebottle C. The means for opening the tongs only partially in releasing abottle form the principle subject matter of the present invention ashereinafter to be describe The barrel portion ill of the tongs supportI! is clamped in a desired vertically adjusted position by suitablebolts IS in the-split bracket 8. At the lower end of the support N thereis secured a fluid pressure cylinder IT. This cylinder is formed with areduced portion l8 (Fig. 2), which is secured within the lower end ofthe barrel I0 and which is formed with an axial bore l9 extendingvertically 'therethrough. A piston 28 is mounted for verticalreciprocation within the cylinder l1 and is provided with a piston rod2| which extendsthrough the bore |8 and upwardly through the barrel Ill.The piston 20 is urged upwardly by a coil spring 22 which encircles therod 2| and which isinterposed between a sleeve 23 loosely surroundingthe lower end of the rod 2| adjacent to the reduced portion l8 of thecylinder l1 and an adjustable nut (not shown) which is threaded onto theupper end of the rod 2|. This nut may be so positioned as to engagebeneath an adjustable stop screw 24 (Fig.- 6) for limiting the closingmovement of the tongs by limiting the upward movement of the piston 20in cylinder l1.

The lower edge of the cylinder I1 is provided with diametrically opposedears 25 (Fig. 1), between each pair of which a tongs holder 26 ispivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 21. gripping fingers 28, oneof which is detachably secured to each of the holders 26 and eachofwhich is formed with an inwardly projecting portion 29 provided with asuitable notch or groove for engaging beneath the neck finish 38 of abottle, as shown in Fig. 2. The tongs holders 26 are also each providedwith an inwardly projecting arm 3| which are oflset relative to eachother (Fig. 4) and which are each pivotally connected to the lower endof one of a pair of links 32 (Figs. 2 and 4). The upper ends of thelinks 32 are pivotally connected to the piston 28 by means of a wristpin 33 and aremaintained in spaced relation to each other by means of aspacingwasher 34. By means of this construction, when air pressure isadmitted to-the cylin-' der l1, the piston 28 will be depressed, thuscaus ing the gripping fingers 28 of the tongs to open. whereas when airpressure within the cylinder is relieved, the spring 22 will elevate thepiston 28 and close the tongs about the ware. It will be pairs ordepending .The tongs comprise a pair of apparent that the ware isyieldingly engaged by toQsecure the tongs 28 to. the holders 26,'butalso are elongatedand extend inward so that they may be adjusted to abuteach other at the closed position of the tongs. in the vtongs members 26so that they may be adjusted in and out to 'predetermine the closedposition of the tongs as aforesaid and-are pro- These screws arethreaded vided with nuts 36 forclamping thetongs mem-' bers 28 to theirholders 26. Either or both of the above-named adjustments maybe employed.to predetermine the closed position of the tongs.

Pressure may be conducted from a suitable I valve means under control ofa-timer (not shown) to the cylinder II, this pressure being transmittedto the cylinder in the same way as is specifically disclosed in theLorenz patent above referred to. Briefly, pressure is conducted, in amanner not particularly illustrated here, down the bracket I (Fig. 6)and thence through suitable transmitting means, some or which are preferably concentric with the axis 2 or the arm 3, thence through a hollowportion of the arm 3 and suitable pressure transmitting passages in thepintle on which the split bracket 9 is mounted to a chamber inside thebracket, whence the pres- 1 sure may pass through a hole 31 (Fig. 2) inthe barrel portion ill of the tongs supportto the interior of thisbarrel portion. Pressure may then pass between the piston rod 2| and theloose sleeve 23 and through a groove 38 cut in'the piston rod past thebore I901 the reduced portion l8 of the cylinder l1 and into the upperend of the cylinder. Suitable meansmay be provided as disclosedspecifically in the Lorenz, patent above referred to for controlling theapplication and exhaust or pressure at the desired times. Theconstruction thus far described is substantially identical with thatdisclosed in the Lorenz patent, and while it has been briefly treatedherein, reference may be had to the Lorenz patent for- 30 a specificdescription of the various mechanisms I of the stacker.

I have shown at 39 (Fig. 2), a plug inthe upper portion of the cylinderll which may be utilized in practice for plugging a hole at-which pointa pressure gage may be screwed in it desired, This is merely anoperating device con-'- venient in testing the apparatus and is shownherein, as the present drawings were made from the working drawings, ofthe commercial device.

I have also illustrated in Fig. 2 a vent passage 45 controlled by anadjustable bleed valve 4|v which may be used in practice to insure therapid exhaustion of pressure from within the cylinder I1, so as topermit the rapid closing of the tongs. 45The valve 4| is. adjusted,however, so that when pressure is supplied to the cylinder l1, foropening the tongs, this pressure will not leak out 'fast enough topreventthe rapid opening of the tongs. Means are provided according tomy invention 50 for limiting the initial opening movement of the V tongs in'depositing an article to a point just sumcient for releasing thearticle, while preventing the full opening thereof for a predeterminedand preferably adjustable time during which the tongs may be movedbodily away from the delivery position and such that the full openingthereof will not cause them to hit an adjacent article.

For this purpose, there is provided a second pneumatic cylinder '42adjacent to the cylinder I1 andpreferablysecuredto the tongs support I lby being provided with a split clamping member 43' which may be integraltherewith and which is secured to the barrel III by means of a arrangedfor ,movement with one or the tongs clamping bolt 44. The cylinder 42 isprovided X members 25, the left hand'one as seen in Fig. 2.

The dog 48 is loosely mounted on one of the pintles 21, as best shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 4, and isprovided with a tail portion 49 having threadedtherethrough an adjustable bolt 50, the inner end or which is adapted toengage against an extension 5l of the tongs holder 25 adjacent thereto.A light spring 52 isprovided which continuously urges the end of thescrew 55 against the extension 5| and thus tends to retain the dog 45 ina predetermined relative position in respect to the associated tong 28.

As best shown in Fig. 2, when the tongs are moved from their closedposition shown in full lines toward their open position, the dog 45 willbe moved in a clockwise direction about the axis of the pintle 21 onwhich it is mounted, due to the engagement of the inner end of the screw50 with the extension 5i. It at this time the piston rod 41 is in itslowermost position to which it is urged by the spring 45, then the tongscan open a predetermined amount only, specifically to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 2, as at that position the upper end of the dog48 will engage against the iower end of the piston rod 41. The tongscannot open further until the piston 45 has been raised in cylinder 42,whichis acconrplished ina manner hereinafter to be described, at whichtime the tongs may be fully opened under the continued action ofpressure in cylinder l1.

It will be seen also that the intermediate position of the tongs may bemanually adjusted as desired by adjusting the position of the screw 55in respect to the tall 49 of the dog 45, this adjustment being securedby a jam nut 53.

g For moving the piston 45 upwardly'in the cyl- These passages includedesired adjusted position and the adjustment secured by a jam nut 58.Thus when pressure is supplied to the cylinder H for opening the tongs,the same pressure passes through the passageways 54, 55 and 55 tn thelower end of cylinder 42' tending to move the piston 45 upwardly againstthe spring 46 and permit the full opening thereof. However, thispressure to cylinder 42 may only pass into the cylinder slowly under thecontrol of the needlevalve 51.

There. is further provided in cylinder 42 an enlarged chamber as shownat 59, beneath the piston 45, so that pressure will be somepredetermined time in building up sufliciently in tho cylinder 42 beforethe piston 45 is moved up.- wardly against the spring 46. This inpractice affords sufllcient time for thetongs to be moved The time ofrelease of the dog 48 from the piston rod 41 is preferably manuallyadjustable. by adjusting the needle valve 51, so that the apparatusmaybe suitably adjusted for different rates of operation.

As above stated, I contemplate that my invenany use for which it isapplicable or desirable. I further contemplate that any desired means,pneumatic or otherwise, may be employed for retarding the full openingof the tongs for apredetermined and preferably tion may be applied toadjustable time after the tongs have been opened partially to release anarticle for the purpose above set forth or for any other desiredpurpose. I contemplate that various changes may be made in theconstruction and relationship of parts, and equivalent mechanism may besubstituted wherever it may to be limited, therefore, except by thescope of the appended claims, which are to be construed as broadly asthe state of the priorart permits. I claim:

1. .Article transferring mechanism, comprising a-support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to be opened and closed and to grasp articles to be bedesirable. I'do not wish.

- der will thereafter operate to permit the full openthe articles aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, means operative at thereceiving'positionfor moving said tongs from their fully opened to theirfully closed position in grasping an article to be transferred, andmeans op- .erative when the tongs have moved an article to the deliveryposition for moving the tongs from theirfully closed position apredetermined distance onlytoward their fully open position to releasean'article and after'the tongs have been bodily moved by movement ofsaid support away from the delivery position to move the tongs inrespect to said support the remainder of the way to their fully openposition.

3. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to be delivery position,

opened and closed'and to grasp articles to be transferred at a receivingposition and deposit the articles after movement of said support at apneumatic means for operating saidtongs at least as to the openingthereof, and means for automatically controlling the operation of saidpneumatic means in opening said tongs and so constructed and arrangedthat the tongs can be opened a predetermined part'ofthe way leasingan'article at the delivery position and thereafter to move in suchmanner and direction as to permit the full opening of the tongs by thefirst named pneumatic means.

5. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to be opened and closed and to grasp articles to betransferred at a receiving position and deposit the articles-aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, pneumatic means foroperating said tongs at least as to the opening thereof, and apneumatically operated delay action device cooperating withthe tongs'opening means for limiting the opening movement of the tongs to apredetermined extent in releasing an article held thereinand'thereafter'moving to a position permitting the first-named pneumaticmeans to open the tongs fully, both said pneumatic means being operatedbyv a single application'of pneumatic pressure. i

6. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to open and close and to grasp articles to betransferred at a receiving position and deposit the articles aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, pneumatic means foroperating said tongs at least to the opening-thereof, and a pneumaticcylinder cooperating with the tongs to' delay the full opening thereoffor a predetermined time after pressure has been supplied to the firstnamed pneumatic means tending to open the tongs,'the parts being soconstructed and arranged that the initialapplication of pressure to thepneumatic means will open the tongs to a predetermined extent only but'suflicient torelease an article held thereby, and said pneumaticcylining of the tongs.

7. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged tobe' opened and closed and to grasp articles to betransferredat a receiving position and deposit the articles aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, pneumatic means foroperating said tongs at least as to the opening thereof,

opening-thereof.

' ferred at a receiving position and deposit the v said tongs at least ionly in releasing an article at the delivery posi-t tion and thereafterthe tongs will be openedto their fullest extent. 4. Article transferringmechanism, comprising a support, tongs on said support arranged tobe,

opened and closed and to grasp articles to be transferred at areceivingposition and' deposit the articles after movement of saidsupport at a delivery position, pneumatic means for opening said tongs,andother pneumatically operated means for automatically limiting theopening of said tongs at an intermediate position thereof in re-- 8.Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to open'and close and to grasp, articles to betransarticles after movement of said support at a delivery position,pneumatic means for operating as to the opening thereof and actuated bythe supplying of pneumatic pressure thereto to open the tongs, apneumatic cylinder having a piston therein cooperating with said tongsfor delaying the full-opening thereof for a predetermined timeafter'press'ure has been sup- 7 plied to the first-named pneumatic meansto open the tongs,

and a' bleed valve interposed between the first-named pneumatic meansand said pneumatic cylinder gradually to admit pressure from thefirst-nanred pneumatic means'to' said pneumatic cy 'nder for moving thepiston thereof in respect to the cylinder after pressure has built upin'saidpneumatic cylinder and thereby to vrmit the full pe opening ofthe tongs at a predeteraovasae mined time subsequent to the partialopening thereof in response to the initial application of pressure tosaid pneumatic means, whereby the partial opening of the tongs may beutilized to 5 release an article supported thereby and the full openingof the tongs may-,be delayed by the aforesaid means until the tongs havebeen bodily moved by movement of said support away from the deliveryposition so that full'opening of the tongs will 10 not cause them toimpinge articles adjacent to the one being deposited. I

9. Article transferring means, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to be opened and closed and to grasp articles to be 15transferred at a receiving position and deposit the articles aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, an-air cylinderconnected with said tongs, spring means associated with said aircylinder and tending at all times to close said tongs, thev 2.0 aircylinder being so constructed and arranged that when pressure issuppliedthereto, the tongs will be opened in opposition to said springmeans, a second air cylinder having a piston therein associated withsaid tongs and arranged in one posi- 25 tion of the piston thereof toprevent the full opening of. said tongs while permitting the partialopening thereof, spring means in said second cylinder tending to movethe piston thereof to a position to prevent the full opening of saidtongs, a bleed passage between said two cylinders, and a manuallyadiustable bleed valve in said bleed passage, the parts being soconstructed and arranged that in depositing an article at the deliveryposition of the tongs, pressure is supplied to 5 the first namedcylinder tending to open the tongs,

this opening movement being limited by the relative position of thesecond air cylinder and the piston thereof to an intermediate positionat which an article is released from the tongs and 40 the piston andsecond cylinder will thereafter be relatively moved by pressure from thefirst air cylinder through. said bleed valve to permit the subsequentfull opening of the tongs under the continued action of the pressufi inthe first-' 45 named cylinder,

10. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs movablymounted on said support, actuating means for opening and closing saidtongs, a dog movably mounted on said support arranged to be moved in apredetermined path by movement of the saidtongs, an interrupting devicemovable into and out of a position in the path of movement of said dogand adapted to interrupt the opening movement of said tongs at anintermediate position thereof when said interrupting device is in oneposition and after movement of said interrupting device to anotherposition, to permit the full opening of said tongs, and means for movingsaid 'interv 60 rupting device into and out ofits position in the pathof movement of said dog.

11. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs movablymounted-on said support and arranged to graspan article and hold it in aposition such that the longitudinal axis of the article will be alignedwith the longitudinal axis of said support, a pneumatic cyl- \inder insaid support for'opening and closing said tongs, a dog movable with oneof said tongs,

' a longitudinally movable rod mounted on sad support for movement intoand out of position in alignment with the path of movement of said dog,and means for moving said rod, the parts being 'so constructed andarranged that when :75 said rod is in its position in the path ofmovement of said dog and pressure is supplied to said pneumatic cylinderfor opening said tongs; the tongs may be opened a predetermined part ofthe way only from their fully closed toward their fully opened positionbut suflicient to release an article previously held therein, and uponmovement of said rod, said tongs may, be moved to their fully openedposition by,said pneumatic cylinder.

12. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongs on saidsupport arranged to be opened and closed and to grasp articles to betransferred at a receiving position and deposit I the artic les aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, means for closing saidtongs to grasp an article at the'receiving position, means for impartingto said tongs a predetermined part only, of theirlopening movement torelease an article at thefdelivery position and thereafter forcompleting'the opening movement of said tongs, and means for adjustablyvarying the amount of opening movement imparted to said tongs to releasean article at the delivery position independently of the time of thepartial or full opening of the tongs and of the fully opened or fullyclosed positions of the tongs.

13. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support. tongs on saidsupport arranged to be opened and closed and to grasp articles to betransferred at a receiving position and deposit the articles aftermovement of said support at a delivery position, pneumatic means foroperating said tongs at least as to the opening thereof,

means for automatically controlling the operation of said pneumaticmeans in opening said tongs and so constructed and arranged that thetongs can be opened a predetermined part of the way only in releasing anarticle at the delivery position, and thereafter the tongs will beopened to their fullest extent, and means for manually adjusting theintermediate position to which the tongs are opened in releasing anarticle independent of the fully open or fully closed positions of saidtongs.

14. Article transferring mechanism, comprising a support, tongspivotally mounted on said support on parallel axes, a pneumatic cylinderin said support arranged to open and close said tongs, the openingmovement of said tongs being in response to the supplying of pressure toone end of said cylinder, a dog mountedfor movement with one of saidtongs and. movable therewith through a predetermined path, a secondpneumatic cylinder mounted on said support, the piston rod of which islocated in one position of the piston in said second cylinder in thepath of movement of said dog, .a bleed passage between said cylinders,and means for resiliently urging'the piston in said second cylinder to aposition at which said piston rod is in the path 'of said dog, theaforesaid parts being so consaid tongs will move the tongs to aninterme-' diate position at which said dog will engage the piston rod ofthe second named cylinder, and subsequently pressure from the firstnamed cylinder passing through said bleed passage will move the pistonin said second named cylinder to move its piston rod out of the path ofsaid dog and thus permit the full opening of said tongs. v

15. Transferring mechanism, comprising a support which is normallymaintained vertical during article transfer, a pair of tongs membersmounted on parallel horizontal axes on said support, a pneumaticcylinder in said support-connected to operate said tongs members, springmeans for moving the piston in said cylinder to close said tongs, meansfor adjustably limiting the closing movement of said tongs. a dogmounted axially with one of said tongs but movable in respect thereto,means for adjustably controlling the angular position of said dog withrespect to its associated tong, means for resiliently holding said dogi'n-a'predetermined position in respect to its associated tong,said-posimovement of said dog,

tion being subject to the angular adjustment therebetween, a secondpneumatic cylinder associated with said support having a piston and piston rod andso located that the piston rodthere of will be in alignmentwith the path of movement of said dog when the piston is at oneposition, spring means for moving the piston in said second cylinder tothe position such that the associated piston rod will be in the path ofable needle valve controlling passage of pressure between the first andsecondnamed pneumatic cylinders, the aforesaid parts being soconstructed and arranged that said tongs may be moved at the receivingposition for articles from their fully opened to their fully closedpositions by the exhausting of pressure from the first named pneumaticcylinder and under the action of the are at their delivery position andit is desired to and a manually adjust after causing v-m'eans thereof.associated spring means, and when said tongs 1 release an article,

intermediate position at which the article will be released whilefurther opening movement of c said tongs at this time is prevented dueto said dog engaging the piston rodiofthe second named pneumaticcylinder, thereby preventing upsetting of the-adjacent sition, andsubsequently pressure passing from the first to the second namedpneumatic cylinders through said needle valve will move said articles atthe delivery poopen said tongs at the delivery position for releasingarticles transferred by the tongs, means 'eflective at the receivingposition fortemporarily mechanically limiting the. opening of the tongsby the aforesaid means, and means for there-- movement of. position topermit the ongs by the opening CLARE S. RILEY.

means to an inoperative complete opening of th pressure may be suppliedto the first named pneumatic cylinder which will move said tongs fromtheir fully closed to an' movement of said support at .the receivingposition to grasp articles and to the last-named

